DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST AND FINAL INSTAR OF THE HEMLOCK LOOPERS LAMBDINA ATHASARIA (WALKER) AND LAMBDINA FISCELLARIA (GUENÉE) (LEPIDOPTERA: GEOMETRIDAE)

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Abstract
Larvae of the hemlock loopers Lambdina athasaria (Walker) from Vermont and L. fiscellaria (Guenée) from Maine are described for color, chaetotaxy, and gross morphology of the head, body, and legs. Body color varies from pale white-grey to dark green-brown with pigmented sclerotized bands. Head capsule color varies from pale grey-white to dark brown, with dark sclerotized spots of variable size. Many L. fiscellaria larvae are a lighter color than L. athasaria, but no consistent differences were found. The chaetotaxy of micro- and macrosetae conforms to the Geometridae, but the lack of detailed descriptions for other Lambdina species precludes a generic diagnosis. The homology of setae L and SV in Geometridae requires further resolution, particularly with respect to the presence or absence of L3 and SV2.